14 people charged in West Baltimore heroin conspiracy

More than 100 ATF agents and local police officers executed search warrants early Thursday and made arrests in connection with the indictment of 14 people in a West Baltimore drug conspiracy case, authorities said.

Baltimore Deputy Police Commissioner John Skinner said that the indictments charge several people believed to be involved in drug distribution and other crimes around the Edmondson Avenue corridor, and said many of them are members of the Bloods gang. Additional details were not available.

"I am confident that the ATF's successful execution of federal arrest and search warrants today in Baltimore will make an impact on crime and violence in our community," Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Steven Gerido said in a statement.

The defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin, and they each face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.

Eleven of the 14 defendants were older than 40, authorities said. Three were still being sought late Thursday, and two were already in custody on state charges.